Freethought & Rationalism Archive

HumanistPR · 10-17-2006, 06:19 AM

Matt Cherry, executive director of the Institute for Humanist Studies, will appear TODAY at 10:00 a.m. EDT (1400 GMT) on a live webchat hosted by the United States Department of State's Bureau of International Information Programs.

Cherry will be available to discuss his role as president of the United Nations Non-Governmental Organizations Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief.

The topic of the webchat is protecting religious freedom and religious minority groups in the world.

As a humanist and an atheist, Cherry's role as president of the U.N. NGO Committee on Freedom or Belief is especially important for humanists and other freethinkers, as these minority groups often get left out in discussions about freedom of religion or belief (or lack thereof).

Please sign up for this webchat now. Once you register, you can submit your comments now. Be sure to submit some questions in advance regarding the protection of the rights of the nonreligious so that this group is part of the dialogue.

Show Information:

Democracy Dialogues: The Role of International NGOs in Promoting Religious Freedom
Guests: Matt Cherry and Doug Johnston
Date: Tuesday, 17 October 2006
Time: 10:00 a.m. EDT (1400 GMT)

* Sign up for webchat
* Enter Chat/Submit Questions in Advance

The protection of religious freedom in the world takes the work of many global players. Some of the most active among them are nongovernmental organizations, which are often a vital link between governments and religious minority groups. Matt Cherry and Doug Johnston, two prominent leaders of international NGOS devoted to religious freedom, will participate together in a webchat about the role of non-governmental organizations in advocating freedom of religion and belief.

Guest Biographies:

Matt Cherry is the president of the United Nations Non-Governmental Organization Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief in New York, a group that works within the U.N. to promote and defend international agreements that protect freedom of religion. Cherry is also an official NGO delegate to the U.N.

Doug Johnston is the president and founder of the International Center for Religion and Diplomacy, a Washington-based non-governmental organization that incorporates religion into diplomatic efforts to foster trust and mutual understanding. Johnston is the former executive vice president and Chief Operating Officer of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a bipartisan, nonprofit organization that develops policy initiatives to advance global security.

Alethias · 10-17-2006, 08:15 AM

Sorry I wasn't there. I didn't know about it till I read this announcement here after the fact.

HumanistPR · 10-18-2006, 07:12 AM

The transcript from Matt Cherry's webchat hosted by the U.S. Dept. of State is now available here:

http://usinfo.state.gov/usinfo/Archi...17-299030.html

There were a few atheists and agnostics who joined in the chat. Thank you so much for your support.

This really was quite a prominent venue and it was great to have a humanist involved. I think everyone's hard work in getting the message out is working.

Cherry was recently on Voice of America speaking about humanism and freedom of belief too. So it's been a good month for the media.

HumanistPR · 10-18-2006, 09:12 AM

Here's a U.S. State Dept. press release about Cherry's appearance on the webchat.

http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/di...reklaw0.344372

We're thrilled for the exposure. But we noticed that this is the first webchat in a while where there were two guests -- one religious, one nonreligious.

Do humanists need to have chaperones when they talk about freedom of religion?

10-17-2006, 06:19 AM	#1
HumanistPR Regular Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Institute for Humanist Studies 48 Howard Street Posts: 137	Join Humanist On State Dept. Webchat Today Matt Cherry, executive director of the Institute for Humanist Studies, will appear TODAY at 10:00 a.m. EDT (1400 GMT) on a live webchat hosted by the United States Department of State's Bureau of International Information Programs. Cherry will be available to discuss his role as president of the United Nations Non-Governmental Organizations Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief. The topic of the webchat is protecting religious freedom and religious minority groups in the world. As a humanist and an atheist, Cherry's role as president of the U.N. NGO Committee on Freedom or Belief is especially important for humanists and other freethinkers, as these minority groups often get left out in discussions about freedom of religion or belief (or lack thereof). Please sign up for this webchat now. Once you register, you can submit your comments now. Be sure to submit some questions in advance regarding the protection of the rights of the nonreligious so that this group is part of the dialogue. Show Information: Democracy Dialogues: The Role of International NGOs in Promoting Religious Freedom Guests: Matt Cherry and Doug Johnston Date: Tuesday, 17 October 2006 Time: 10:00 a.m. EDT (1400 GMT) * Sign up for webchat * Enter Chat/Submit Questions in Advance The protection of religious freedom in the world takes the work of many global players. Some of the most active among them are nongovernmental organizations, which are often a vital link between governments and religious minority groups. Matt Cherry and Doug Johnston, two prominent leaders of international NGOS devoted to religious freedom, will participate together in a webchat about the role of non-governmental organizations in advocating freedom of religion and belief. Guest Biographies: Matt Cherry is the president of the United Nations Non-Governmental Organization Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief in New York, a group that works within the U.N. to promote and defend international agreements that protect freedom of religion. Cherry is also an official NGO delegate to the U.N. Doug Johnston is the president and founder of the International Center for Religion and Diplomacy, a Washington-based non-governmental organization that incorporates religion into diplomatic efforts to foster trust and mutual understanding. Johnston is the former executive vice president and Chief Operating Officer of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a bipartisan, nonprofit organization that develops policy initiatives to advance global security.

10-18-2006, 07:12 AM	#3
HumanistPR Regular Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Institute for Humanist Studies 48 Howard Street Posts: 137	transcript of chat available The transcript from Matt Cherry's webchat hosted by the U.S. Dept. of State is now available here: http://usinfo.state.gov/usinfo/Archi...17-299030.html There were a few atheists and agnostics who joined in the chat. Thank you so much for your support. This really was quite a prominent venue and it was great to have a humanist involved. I think everyone's hard work in getting the message out is working. Cherry was recently on Voice of America speaking about humanism and freedom of belief too. So it's been a good month for the media.

10-18-2006, 09:12 AM	#4
HumanistPR Regular Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Institute for Humanist Studies 48 Howard Street Posts: 137	Do Humanists Need Chaperones? Here's a U.S. State Dept. press release about Cherry's appearance on the webchat. http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/di...reklaw0.344372 We're thrilled for the exposure. But we noticed that this is the first webchat in a while where there were two guests -- one religious, one nonreligious. Do humanists need to have chaperones when they talk about freedom of religion?

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10-17-2006, 08:15 AM	#2
Alethias Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 7,198	Sorry I wasn't there. I didn't know about it till I read this announcement here after the fact.

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